Application to participate in Iacobucci Inquiry

There is not much time to apply. If there are any groups or invidivuals out there who might qualify it seems there is also funding available if you are broke! March 14 is the deadline. It sounds as if almost everything will be in private: a very bad sign. I haven't heard anything from the lawyers for the three principals lately. I know at least one wanted public hearings. I suppose they might have a token public meeting or so. We will see. So far the press is completely silent even on the existence of the web site.

Hearings
Notice of Hearings
The Honourable Frank Iacobucci has been appointed as Commissioner to conduct an Internal Inquiry into the actions of Canadian officials in relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddin. The Commissioner is to conduct the Inquiry in order to determine the following:

whether the detention of Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddin in Syria or Egypt resulted, directly or indirectly, from actions of Canadian officials, particularly in relation to the sharing of information with foreign countries and, if so, whether those actions were deficient in the circumstances,

whether there were deficiencies in the actions taken by Canadian officials to provide consular services to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddin while they were detained in Syria or Egypt, and

whether any mistreatment of Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddin in Syria or Egypt resulted, directly or indirectly, from actions of Canadian officials, particularly in relation to the sharing of information

Hearing on Participation and Funding
The Commissioner’s terms of reference authorize him to grant, to any person who satisfies him that they have a substantial and direct interest in the subject-matter of the Inquiry, an opportunity for appropriate participation, and to recommend to the Clerk of the Privy Council that funding for those granted an opportunity for participation be provided where, in the Commissioner’s view, the party would not otherwise be able to participate in the Inquiry.

Applications by interested individuals, groups, governments and agencies for an opportunity to participate in the Inquiry and a recommendation for funding will be heard from 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at the Bytown Lounge, 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario. In order to be heard, applicants must submit applications for participation and/or funding in writing to the Inquiry either by sending a copy to the Commission offices at the address set out below, or by e-mail to inquiry.admin@bellnet.ca, no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Procedures Hearing
The Commissioner’s terms of reference authorize him to adopt any procedures and methods that he considers expedient for the proper conduct of the Inquiry, while taking all steps necessary to ensure that the Inquiry is conducted in private.

A hearing will take place from 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at the Bytown Lounge, 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario to receive submissions from those granted an opportunity to participate in the Inquiry concerning the procedures and methods to be followed in the conduct of the Inquiry.

The Inquiry’s terms of reference, together with further information on applications for an opportunity to participate and recommendations for funding, will be posted on the Inquiry’s website at www.IacobucciInquiry.ca.